ISO 17420-7:2021

Overview

ISO 17420-7:2021 specifies performance requirements for respiratory protective devices (RPD) intended for special applications - specifically marine, mining, welding and abrasive blasting. It covers both filtering RPD (e.g., particulate and gas filters) and supplied breathable gas RPD (e.g., airline and supplied-air systems) used in the workplace to protect the wearer. The standard defines classification, general and application‑specific requirements, pre‑conditioning, test methods, marking and manufacturer information.

Key topics and technical requirements

ISO 17420-7:2021 addresses the following technical areas (high‑level summary based on the document contents):

• Classification overview for supplied breathable gas RPD and filtering RPD.
• General requirements for RPD design, materials and performance.
• Special application requirement matrices tailoring tests and criteria for marine, mining, welding and abrasive blasting uses.
• Thermal and flame resistance (fabrics, visors) and radiant heat considerations.
• Resistance to hot particles (embers, sparks) and avoidance of frictional sparks.
• Chemical resistance of materials and visor components where welding or chemical exposure occurs.
• Mechanical requirements including strength, impacts and hose performance.
• Audible warning devices and practical performance tests (breathing resistance, leakage).
• Requirements for use in explosive atmospheres, including antistatic properties.
• Pre‑conditioning procedures: vibration/shock, pressure changes, corrosion (salt spray), drop and abrasive blasting exposure.
• Testing methods and inspection (references to ISO 16900 series for specific test methods), hose permeation and positive‑pressure leak testing.
• Marking and user information that manufacturers must supply.

Practical applications - who uses this standard

ISO 17420-7 is used by:

• RPD manufacturers and product designers to design and certify filtering and supplied‑air devices for harsh or specialized workplaces.
• Testing laboratories and certification bodies performing performance and safety tests.
• EHS and safety managers, procurement and quality teams selecting PPE for marine, mining, welding and abrasive‑blasting operations.
• Regulators and conformity assessors referencing harmonized performance requirements for workplace respiratory protection.

Use this standard to ensure RPD selection, testing and documentation meet recognized performance criteria for special applications where thermal, mechanical, chemical and explosive atmosphere hazards exist.

Related standards

Key related documents include ISO 17420-1, -2, -4, the ISO 16900 test methods series, and relevant IEC/ASTM/NFPA references cited in the normative references for explosive atmospheres, environmental testing and material resistance.